Jefferson Lake

WWE Money In The Bank: Renaissance for Randy Orton?

Will Randy Orton rise back to the top at Money In The Bank? Or will Ricochet or Andrade win the battle for the briefcase and begin a run at the big time?

Last Updated: 04/05/19 8:31am

Could Randy Orton be about to embark on one last glorious run as a WWE world champion?

The male selections for WWE's Money In The Bank ladder match contain a mix of hard-hitting heavyweights, high-flying specialists and the curious addition of a highly-decorated multiple former world champion.

Randy Orton, with 13 world titles to his name, will be one of eight men who will fight for the right to grab the famous aluminium case at the Sky Sports Box Office event on Sunday May 19.

He is an intriguing addition to a match which signals the start of the post-WrestleMania cycle of storylines as championship opportunities are up for grabs in both the men's and women's division.

We take a look at how the Viper fits in to the runners and riders for this year's contest...

Drew McIntyre has been touted as a potential Universal champion

The favourites

According to SkyBet, Drew McIntyre (at 6/4) is the best bet to win the briefcase, and there is a clear logic in that; the vicious Scotsman has long been touted as a future star and a Money In The Bank triumph would set him on collision course with Universal champion Seth Rollins.

Keeping him company at the top of the betting is Mexican star Andrade (2/1), a man who has impressed pretty much everyone with his in-ring performances since moving the main roster from NXT.

The two are very different types and a victory for either would represent very different booking strategies. But both are heels, and the briefcase ownership has been traditionally held by villains as it plays into that character more.

Baron Corbin, McIntyre, Ricochet and Braun Strowman will carry the Raw flag into the ladder match at Money In The Bank

The chasing pack

That is not to say, however, that Ricochet (13/2) and Ali (7/1) would not be solid selections. They sit alongside Braun Strowman (also 7/1) in the trio just below the top-priced challengers.

Between them, Ricochet and Ali have the potential to steal the show in the ladder match with their aerial capabilities, while Strowman is no stranger to eye-catching weapon-based brutality.

For the former two, winning Money In The Bank would be the start of a major push - and WWE has already made clear their fondness for Ali - while for the Monster Among Men it would act as a resetting of focus.

As Intercontinental champion, Finn Balor already has plenty on his WWE plate

The 'outsiders'

While not actually that far behind the pack, SkyBet has the least amount of confidence in Orton (9/1), Baron Corbin and Finn Balor (both 10/1) to be the men to ascend the ladder at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut.

True, Corbin and Balor may have their eyes on other prizes, with the former potentially being positioned as a post-event Universal title challenger whether he has the briefcase or not, the latter the proud owner of the Intercontinental title and with a feud with Andrade ready to roll.

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Which just leaves Orton. The Viper has held championship gold 13 times in his glorious career and of course won Money In The Bank in 2013. At 39, he has more of his career behind him than he does in front of him. But could this be the start of one last title run?...